Economy · Regional & devolved · 9 November 2026
Visitor Levy Bill introduced in House of Commons
The Visitor Levy Bill has been introduced in the House of Commons to allow local leaders to raise funds for reinvestment. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced that the fee will be based on accommodation cost to protect lower-cost stays.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has introduced the Visitor Levy Bill in the House of Commons. The legislation provides mayors and local leaders with the power to introduce a small fee on overnight stays. Any money raised through this mechanism is required to remain in the local area for investment purposes.
To ensure fairness, the levy must be charged as a percentage of the accommodation cost rather than a flat fee. This structure is designed to protect lower-cost stays. Ten mayors have committed to keeping the levy rate at or below 5%. Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, stated: "Every pound raised through these levies will stay in the local area."
The bill supports the government's high streets strategy and aims to shift power to local communities. Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said the measure would provide access to new funding to support the visitor economy and improve public services. The announcement does not specify a start date for the implementation of the levy.
Written by StreetOwl from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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